AlaskaDenise
In Memoriam
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=11&art_id=32739&sid=11064842&con_type=1
Chester Yung
Monday, November 27, 2006
World Health Organization director-general-elect Margaret Chan Fung Fu-chun has called on all member countries, including China, to exercise a high level of transparency in efforts to fight bird flu, saying she is fully aware of many countries' concerns about public health administration in the mainland.
"China is a big country whose public health administration is of great concern to other states. China is adopting a positive attitude towards cooperation in the area of public health," Chan said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua News Agency - the first since her election to the top WHO post earlier this month.
Chan's election had earlier prompted calls for independence and transparency at the top of the global health agency amid concern about the mainland's secrecy in tackling infectious diseases.
"Cooperation between China and the WHO is good. The exchange of timely information facilitates the work of the organization," Chan was quoted as saying.
Observers said Chan's position may help consolidate China's relationship with the WHO, and could encourage Beijing to share medical samples and exchange information with member countries.
Chan, who won the WHO job November 9, will start her 5-year term January 4.
The former Hong Kong director of health said her "most crucial and the first task" after assuming office is "to listen to the opinions of member states, regional offices, various research and development organizations, non-governmental organizations, the private sector and my colleagues."
Asked about the threat from bird flu and other infectious diseases confronting the world, Chan said the current situation on bird flu has eased off somewhat, and morbidity is lower than in the past two years partly because countries have become more alert about prevention and control of bird flu, and will adopt various timely measures to contain any outbreak.
But she stressed the world should stay vigilant because many public-health experts are still unable to have a full picture of the deadly disease.
International cooperation and strengthening of research work is the key. "This is more effective than any control measures enforced," she said.
Chan urged all member states to report any outbreak to the WHO and the United Nations' World Organization for Animal Health.
In her election manifesto, Chan pledged to establish a global health observatory to collect and collate data on priority health problems.
Notably, she said she would assist Taiwan to participate in the WHO's work. "Being a WHO director-general with the authorization of the World Health Assembly, I'll continue to help Taiwan experts in participating in WHO events." However, the interview did not touch on the more sensitive issue of whether Taiwan should become a WHO member.
The island was ejected from the organization in 1972 - a year after losing the China seat in the UN to Beijing.
Responding to a question on whether there would be any change in WHO policies after Chan takes up the post, a foreign ministry spokeswoman in Beijing said last month: "Our position is clear. The WHO constitutes sovereign states and Taiwan, as part of China, has no right to participate in this organization."
Chan is the third Asian to head the WHO, which was founded in 1948.
Before Chan's predecessor, South Korea's Lee Jong Wook who died in office in May this year, the post of director-general had been held by citizens of Canada, Brazil, Denmark, Japan and Norway.
.
Chester Yung
Monday, November 27, 2006
World Health Organization director-general-elect Margaret Chan Fung Fu-chun has called on all member countries, including China, to exercise a high level of transparency in efforts to fight bird flu, saying she is fully aware of many countries' concerns about public health administration in the mainland.
"China is a big country whose public health administration is of great concern to other states. China is adopting a positive attitude towards cooperation in the area of public health," Chan said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua News Agency - the first since her election to the top WHO post earlier this month.
Chan's election had earlier prompted calls for independence and transparency at the top of the global health agency amid concern about the mainland's secrecy in tackling infectious diseases.
"Cooperation between China and the WHO is good. The exchange of timely information facilitates the work of the organization," Chan was quoted as saying.
Observers said Chan's position may help consolidate China's relationship with the WHO, and could encourage Beijing to share medical samples and exchange information with member countries.
Chan, who won the WHO job November 9, will start her 5-year term January 4.
The former Hong Kong director of health said her "most crucial and the first task" after assuming office is "to listen to the opinions of member states, regional offices, various research and development organizations, non-governmental organizations, the private sector and my colleagues."
Asked about the threat from bird flu and other infectious diseases confronting the world, Chan said the current situation on bird flu has eased off somewhat, and morbidity is lower than in the past two years partly because countries have become more alert about prevention and control of bird flu, and will adopt various timely measures to contain any outbreak.
But she stressed the world should stay vigilant because many public-health experts are still unable to have a full picture of the deadly disease.
International cooperation and strengthening of research work is the key. "This is more effective than any control measures enforced," she said.
Chan urged all member states to report any outbreak to the WHO and the United Nations' World Organization for Animal Health.
In her election manifesto, Chan pledged to establish a global health observatory to collect and collate data on priority health problems.
Notably, she said she would assist Taiwan to participate in the WHO's work. "Being a WHO director-general with the authorization of the World Health Assembly, I'll continue to help Taiwan experts in participating in WHO events." However, the interview did not touch on the more sensitive issue of whether Taiwan should become a WHO member.
The island was ejected from the organization in 1972 - a year after losing the China seat in the UN to Beijing.
Responding to a question on whether there would be any change in WHO policies after Chan takes up the post, a foreign ministry spokeswoman in Beijing said last month: "Our position is clear. The WHO constitutes sovereign states and Taiwan, as part of China, has no right to participate in this organization."
Chan is the third Asian to head the WHO, which was founded in 1948.
Before Chan's predecessor, South Korea's Lee Jong Wook who died in office in May this year, the post of director-general had been held by citizens of Canada, Brazil, Denmark, Japan and Norway.
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